The President called
a special meeting of the Cabinet to-day, and asked our judgments on two
questions:
First, as to the
expediency of Treaties with Governments desiring their immigration, for
voluntary colonization of blacks.
Second, As to the
proper answer to be returned to the letter from John Ross, excusing the Treaty
of the Cherokees with the Rebels, and asking the protection of the United
States and the fulfilment of old Treaties.
On the first
question, there was the usual diversity of opinion. I not thinking Colonization
in its self desirable, except as a means of getting a foothold in Central
America,1 thought no Treaties expedient; but simple arrangements,
under the legislation of Congress by which any person who might choose to
emigrate, would be secured in such advantages as might be offered them by other
States or Governments. Seward rather favored Treaties, but evidently did not
think much of the wisdom of any measures for sending out of the country
laborers needed here. The President asked us to think of the subject, and be
ready to express our opinions when we next come together.
As to the Cherokee
question there seemed to be a general concurrence that no new pledges should be
given them but that, at the end of the war, their condition and relation to the
United States should have just consideration.
After Cabinet, went
with Stanton to War Department, and laid before him sundry applications for
positions, with such verbal support as I thought due to them. Returning to the
Department, I found there young Mr. Walley, and gave him an earnest
recommendation to Stanton; and was surprised, an hour or so after, to receive a
note from him thanking me for my kindness, but saying that Mr. Stanton told him
there was no likelihood of his receiving an appointment; and that he was going
to enlist as a private. Wrote note to Mr. Walley (his father) expressing my
regret.
Nothing at
Department but routine — except direction to Cisco to receive deposits of gold,
and a call from Eli Thayer about his project for colonizing East Florida, with
which I sympathize.
Had proposed to
Genl. Garfield to take him over and call on Genl. Hooker, but it rained and he
did not come. After dinner, however, the sky cleared some what, and Katie and I
rode out and called on him. He was still improving.
An hour or two after
our return, a band of music, which had just serenaded the President by way of
congratulation on the Proclamation, came to my house and demanded a speech — with
which demand I complied briefly. Gen. Clay, who was with me, responded more at
length. After the crowd had passed on, Gen. Clay, Mr. Clark, of Mercer, Penna.,
Genl. Robinson, of Pittsburgh, and Mr. Wm. D. Lewis, of Philadelphia, came in
and spent a little time with me.
_______________
1 Chase, like Seward, contemplated the
expansion of the United States southward to the Isthmus. See his letter to
James H. Smith, May 8, 1849.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical Association
for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 92-4
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